In the US, you can purchase a Canon Digital Rebel (EOS 300D) for $1000 with the 'kit' lense. Without the lense, I have seen them going for nearly $700 on various web-sites.
If you have a Old School Film 35mm Camera body with a plethora of lenses, then it makes sense to look at a DSLR made by the same or compatible manufacturer. It also makes sense to look at a DSLR if you are at all slightly serious about getting into photography. For either having photography as a significant hobby or to act as a lower cost professional.
Although if you have the insane dough, (often priced $10k and up) there is no reason not to look at Wide-Format Digital Backs for Wide-Format Cameras, the type typically used for Wedding and other professional photographical work.
You will be derided for creating a 'Concentration Camp' LEGO set, but will likely be loved and adored for creating a 'The Passion of the Christ' LEGO set with switchable Jesus parts depicting various states of being tortured.
It's not 'Think of the Children' at all. Most of those people that are yapping about 'Thinking about the Children' are only yapping about what they are told to yap about.
...I wouldn't say that the entire religion is completely screwy, just certain fundamentalist sects within that religion can be. There are quite a large number of actual Christians that are extremely easy to get along with and are exceptionally modern in their world view.
You just don't hear about them as often as you hear about the red faced screaming "for Jesus" types that are so commonly heard from these days.
...on the history of the Christian Science Monitor.
My understanding is that it is one of the oldest and longest running *actual* news sources that has remained rather committed to the *actual* scientific truth, not the false truth pushed by Born Again Christian Fundamentalists.
...public library in the US and 'rent' a CD of Music, not always the latest release mind you, as well as a number of Video Cassettes, DVDs and other media formats. Not to many people know that many modern libraries have all sorts of media available for 'rental'.
...the Global Warming Phenomenon is a very complex subject of which, I can only speak of my personal experience with Global Warming.
I live in Detroit, Michigan. I remember that back when I was a child, that by December 7th, we used to have large piles of snow all over the place. Yesterday, we had a torrential downpour that ten years ago would have been a blizzard.
I would rather have the blizzard then the springtime downpour in the beginning of December. Just as I am certain that the people in Florida would have rather had their two to three low-level hurricanes, instead of the significant number of very powerful hurricanes.
Both of the above examples can be attributed to an alteration of Global Weather patterns, due to the general warming of the globe. If there is a method by which we can slow down and even reverse that process, it is imperative that we do so in order to protect life as we know it.
Since there is a preponderance of evidence showing that human activities have assisted in speeding up the natural process of global warming, we need to look into ways to minimize our impact on the natural global warming process and work hard on potential methods that could help us rollback the natural process of global warming.
If that involves building Carbon Dioxide 'Scrubbers' that are both stationary and mobile within the atmosphere, we should look into that. (It's been a while since I have read about this idea and what I read had some merit.) If it means we coat cities with foliage in order to cut down on the amount of ambient heat that cities hold for periods of time far greater then natural foliage does, then we need to look into that as well. Both of these proposed ideas are potentially huge job creation opportunities that can fuel tremendous economic growth.
Many of these 'leaders' are doing what they can to make 'Bible Prophecy' true. Quite frankly, I hope that do succeed quite quickly, in bringing about their most 'compelling' prohpecies so that we, as the human race, can move beyond such doomsday beliefs.
Anyway, they don't care about longterm effects of their actions because many of them believe that their 'Rapture' could happen at any moment.
The article explained that the potential technology would allow you to exist at your current state of physical and mental well-being and in fact reverse the physical and mental age of existing older people until you died due to unforseen circumstances, such as getting hit by a speeding truck.
I don't see why you would rather live a full life, up to 50, without pills and such, instead of living that same full life for, on average, 1000 years of life with pills and such...
Kids these days, always speaking before they know what they are speaking about.
It wasn't just for the corporations, quite a few 'interest groups' were involved in fighting the political climate of the fight against Communism.
It was in the 50's that Evangelical Christians started freaking out about the End Times and how Gog and Magog was Soviet Russia and Communism was all about the state and not religion. Good old Billy Graham started hardcore preaching about the evils of Communism and how it was out to destroy religion and all that jazz.
Around the same time those Evangelicals started getting mighty political and helped empower the 'Red Scare' in the United States.
When did you provide links to the information you were presenting?
You had stated the marijuana user mantra, that has been repeated often in 'High Times' and by many of the marijuana user's that I have interacted with throughout the years. It doesn't matter if you read that publication or not, I have read and had those statements recounted to me from that publication and have heard that gospel preached by many users of marijuana.
Heck, I used to believe that same thing myself!
Here's some links... The first one gives me reason to question whether or not Marijuana should be made legal...
Here's a High Times piece that ignores much of the additional scientific information in the previous link, in order to 'justify' the legalization movement. Perhaps the writer suffered from memory loss revolving around the rest of the scientific information that was available at the time the discovery of the brain receptor he wrote about...
The following quote comes directly from the above listed 'High Times' article...
This latest research confirms and explains Hollister's 1986 conclusion about cannabis and addiction: "Physical dependence is rarely encountered in the usual patterns, despite some degree of tolerance that may develop."
It says 'rarely encountered in the usual patterns' that doesn't mean that physical dependence is rarely encountered, just that the usual patterns, like the intense almost crazy cravings for the drug aren't usual. Even 'High Times' agrees with me that Marijuana is physically addictive!
You really don't have to like the facts, just understand the facts exist. I am still for the legalization of marijuana, but you won't ever see me using it. That's just not something that is part of my life, for many reasons.
I am not preaching and saying that anyone shouldn't use marijuana or any particular drug, I am just pointing out the fact that it is indeed addictive. I also qualify that by stating that it is well known that the withdrawal symptoms are quite minimal, in comparison to a great many other drugs and that many current and past users of marijuana simply don't believe they are or were ever addicted, because withdrawal is so minor.
My sig says nothing about posting 'bs' about people I don't know. It's simply about tools with multiple uses.
If you reread my statement, it was a hypothetical possibility, I didn't proclaim that the parent poster did indeed feel those symptoms, I simply suggested that he/she *may* have felt those for a few days or so and most likely didn't think anything of those symptoms. Which is entirely possible, due to the low level of withdrawal symptoms with marijuana.
The textbooks that I read, newer then 10 years BTW, detailed what I had stated above. I am not taking this on faith. I am taking my statements based upon the information that was in a psychology textbook for a class that I took about 4 years ago.
Ten years ago, it wasn't possible for US researchers to use Class 1 Controlled substances, like Marijuana, for scientific study. So, most of the data from back then and earlier is out of date, couldn't be tested and proven, without criminal charges being levied on the researchers.
In recent years those restrictions have changed somewhat and some studies have been allowed in the US and studies from outside the US could then be verified by US research scientists.
Look, I am all for legalizing Marijuana, because out of most of the drugs out there, it is relatively benign, mostly affecting long-term memory and some other minor side-effects. Which recent studies have proven.
Anyway, back to your contention that it is only psychologically addictive. I have to say that's bunk.
Slashdot, Everquest and other similar entertaining pursuits are psychologically addictive, because they don't alter the physical chemistry of your brain or body, you don't take magic EQ or Slashdot pills in order to enjoy EQ or Slashdot. You simply load them up on your computer and enjoy.
Marijuana, on the other hand, chemically alters your brain chemistry. It affects your neurotransmitters, through a physical chemical reaction. This brings on the psychological effects attributed to marijuana. Over time, the brain becomes used to and wants to continue to be in that state. Which is why so many potheads, whom I was once one of, like to come up with all these ideas and excuses about how and why Marijuana is needed in their life, how it isn't addictive and all other sorts of made up on faith beliefs, or repeated by enough people that it simply must be true, right? You know the old saying, "a million can't be wrong", right?
The great thing about marijuana is that the physical addiction symptoms are so negligable that they simply don't negatively impact most and I do mean most users, when they quit cold turkey. Due to that fact, it is one of the easiest drugs to stop taking and that's a fact.
You should pick up some more modern books on the subject and quit taking the words of 'High Times' and other pothead's as the gospel in regards to the physical effects of THC and long-term marijuana use.
What exactly is and advanced degree in experimental psychology? Is that a respected and generally accepted medical science or is it more of a fringe science that isn't generally accepted, kind of like paranormal science? I need to have that qualified before I can properly address your statement.
I have to ask to clarify that, because when you toss on 'Experimental', to me, that significantly calls into question the basis of your statements. It's not your fault that I have to question where you are coming from, you can blame 'Creation Scientists' for that. These days, I have to be extremely skeptical of anyone that claims certain scientific knowledge that is practically the opposite of generally accepted scientific knowledge.
From my, albeit, limited understanding of psychology and general medical, THC is a drug that alters the physical chemistry of the brain. This has a psychological effect that is well documented. It is true that THC has less intense side-effects on the human brain chemistry then say, Heroin, Nicotine, Cocain and caffine. However, there are still physcial chemical changes in the brain.
Eventually, just like other drugs, the brain adjusts and becomes used to that altered state of operation and the user of that drug often wishes to maintain that altered state of mind. Some users end up consuming more and more of a given drug, including Marijuana, and will often come up with excuses as to why they 'need' it in their life and how they simply cannot live without it.
Most people can easily adjust to no longer having that drug available and can quickly quit with barely noticeable side effects. Some people can continue to use small amounts of a given drug without increasing usage or lowering usage and will experience barely noticeable side-effects in day to day living. You can be an addict, to Marijuana, and have that have little impact on your life. You can quit at anytime and have negligable withdrawal symptoms that are typically so minor that they are barely noticed by most people.
I am not one of those 'Just say no' folks. My contention is that if some behavior or activity enriches your life, then you shouldn't have to quit, even termporarily, that activity to still succeed at your primary goal.
Your exmple of Lance Armstrong is very illogical. Both training for the Tour De France and an advanced mathematical degree are both extremely time consuming and great endeavors, both of which require almost 100% attention in order to be successful at it. Both also enrich one's life, although through very different approaches.
My example is asking why he/she (the parent poster) should quit a recreational activity that so enriches his/her life, in order to be able to work hard at his or her primary task. You are suggesting a choice between two arguably primary tasks.
I am certain that advanced mathematics degree seekers and Lance Armstrong both have their recreational activities on the side that they continue to pursue while seeking out their primary goal. People need recreational diversions, we would go pretty nutty if we didn't have any.
I was only asking the parent poster why he/she finds his/her life enriched by consuming marijuana and at the same time finds that substance to get in the way when he/she needs to buckle down and get to work, to the point of quiting for upwards of 6 to 8 months. To me, that doesn't say life enrichment by smoking marijuana, it kind of says the opposite.
If it 'enriches' your life so much, why did you have to quit for about 8 or 9 weeks last semester to 'hunker down' and 'work hard'?
If something enriches one's life, then it should be that you would be capable of hunkering down and working harder by having that part of your life, right?
Like I said, the withdrawal symptoms aren't quite as strong as other drugs or alchohol. Relating that part of your life as 'When was I not stoned' is a sign that, at the time, you were addicted to that behavior.
When your 'source' moved away, you and your friends, possibly fretted about it for a few days, maybe you looked elsewhere and in the end decided it wasn't worth your time. You may not remember those three or four days of being slightly agitated about losing your 'fun' thing, but that most likely happened. After a few days, that passed because the withdrawal symptoms are light and fade quite quickly with marijuana.
The addiction is to having an altered state of mind. Some people smoke pot simply to relax and have a good time. Some people drink beer to relax and have a good time.
Some people smoke pot, simply to reach and or maintain that altered mental state. Some people drink beer to reach and or maintain that altered mental state.
The difference is one is truly an addiction and the other is not so much of an addiction.
Marijuana is addictive. To prove this to yourself, simply stop taking marijuana for the next 6 months. Don't toke even once. Not so easy to do, is it? (Note, this only works if you currently smoke marijuana.)
Anyone who has smoked heavy amounts of marijuana or has smoked regularly and then quit for one reason or another knows that marijuana is indeed addictive. It just doesn't feature the same depth and width of withdrawal as many other drugs and alchohol has.
Every Pothead likes to claim how marijuana isn't addictive, but when pressed to quit, they come up with excuses or even say that they can't get by without it.
I have a friend that moved back from across the country that was desperately wanting to get ahold of some marijuana and was at an elevated emotional state proclaiming to me how much he needed it in his life. He heavily suggested to me that if I didn't help him, he was likely going to become an alchoholic because if he couldn't smoke pot, he was going drink large quantities of beer. That's a fact.
I know more then a few people in that boat and was in that same boat myself. Luckily, I quit, moved on from that part of my life and have found that no longer smoking pot was the most positive thing I ever could have done.
...won't really happen until all the MMORPGs offer extremely close experiences and the differences between them are minor. Once that happens, then competition on price will be the norm.
However, right now you have vastly different games, some with vastly different genres. At best, there could be a pricewar between Fantasy Based MMORPGs, SciFi based RPGs and so on. That is very unlikely, because each of the games set into each genre offers various levels of play and radically different takes on the genre.
A SciFi example being...
Star Wars Galaxies and Anarchy Online.
SWG has a well known and loved franchise. That's HUGE points over AO. SWG has a very wide crafting system and equipment system, from harvesting resources to building sub-components to crafting final assemblies. AO's crafting system pales in comparison. SWG now has a Space Combat system as well as several planets to choose from. AO doesn't have that.
There is little reason for SWG to compete with AO based upon price. SWG offers much, much more then AO currently and may ever offer.
The same goes for a variety of other MMORPGs. For the longest time Ultima Online offered things that EQ and other Fantasy MMORPGs didn't offer. It had a decent crafting system, player houses, non-combat classes and a number of other interesting features all taking place in a long-lived Computer Fantasy Role-Playing Game of Ultima.
I would like to see a pricewar, but that won't happen until all MMORPGs of a particular genre share so many features that price is the only way to differentiate between them. Until that day, those companies can continue to increase their prices just up to the point that decent numbers of players start leaving the game.
...I play SWG/JTL and I run into a mass of people that simply see no reason to group or join a PA or do much of anything social in the game.
I have run into all sorts of people that seem intent ONLY on the level as fast as possible, grind, grind, grind mentality. They don't play the game to enjoy what the game offers, they don't read into the story quests, they don't converse with other players, unless they absolutely have to. It doesn't make much sense to me to play that way.
Playing like that would become so boring that there would be little to no reason to continue playing the game. There's only so much content available to the Solo player, after that is used up, players have to 'make' their own content, by being social with one another. Building Player Cities, joining PA's and getting involved in PA Wars and such.
Those solo players might as well be playing a MMORPG like Anarchy Online, which the last time I played it was totally geared for Solo play. In fact, that game seemed design to push people into solo play. There's no kind of 'community' that can be built inside the confines of that game. There aren't any Player Cities, there were no 'Static' dungeons that required player's to interact with one another. Anarchy Online is a Solo Player's Wet Dream.
Slashdot Mirror
In the US, you can purchase a Canon Digital Rebel (EOS 300D) for $1000 with the 'kit' lense. Without the lense, I have seen them going for nearly $700 on various web-sites.
If you have a Old School Film 35mm Camera body with a plethora of lenses, then it makes sense to look at a DSLR made by the same or compatible manufacturer. It also makes sense to look at a DSLR if you are at all slightly serious about getting into photography. For either having photography as a significant hobby or to act as a lower cost professional.
Although if you have the insane dough, (often priced $10k and up) there is no reason not to look at Wide-Format Digital Backs for Wide-Format Cameras, the type typically used for Wedding and other professional photographical work.
You will be derided for creating a 'Concentration Camp' LEGO set, but will likely be loved and adored for creating a 'The Passion of the Christ' LEGO set with switchable Jesus parts depicting various states of being tortured.
It's not 'Think of the Children' at all. Most of those people that are yapping about 'Thinking about the Children' are only yapping about what they are told to yap about.
You just don't hear about them as often as you hear about the red faced screaming "for Jesus" types that are so commonly heard from these days.
...on the history of the Christian Science Monitor.
My understanding is that it is one of the oldest and longest running *actual* news sources that has remained rather committed to the *actual* scientific truth, not the false truth pushed by Born Again Christian Fundamentalists.
I live in Detroit, Michigan. I remember that back when I was a child, that by December 7th, we used to have large piles of snow all over the place. Yesterday, we had a torrential downpour that ten years ago would have been a blizzard.
I would rather have the blizzard then the springtime downpour in the beginning of December. Just as I am certain that the people in Florida would have rather had their two to three low-level hurricanes, instead of the significant number of very powerful hurricanes.
Both of the above examples can be attributed to an alteration of Global Weather patterns, due to the general warming of the globe. If there is a method by which we can slow down and even reverse that process, it is imperative that we do so in order to protect life as we know it.
Since there is a preponderance of evidence showing that human activities have assisted in speeding up the natural process of global warming, we need to look into ways to minimize our impact on the natural global warming process and work hard on potential methods that could help us rollback the natural process of global warming.
If that involves building Carbon Dioxide 'Scrubbers' that are both stationary and mobile within the atmosphere, we should look into that. (It's been a while since I have read about this idea and what I read had some merit.) If it means we coat cities with foliage in order to cut down on the amount of ambient heat that cities hold for periods of time far greater then natural foliage does, then we need to look into that as well. Both of these proposed ideas are potentially huge job creation opportunities that can fuel tremendous economic growth.
...to tell is this is genuine Sarcastic Wit or genuine Caustic Right-Wing Bush Supporter Rhetoric!
First, most of them won't be around by the time those debts need to be collected, which means both in office and some of them may pass on.
Secondly, you would be surprised at how many of them believe that we are in the 'End Times' and they expect the 'Rapture' at any moment. I have read an article recently, , in fact, that details more then a few politicians and their strong religious beliefs and how those beliefs are used to set public policy.
Many of these 'leaders' are doing what they can to make 'Bible Prophecy' true. Quite frankly, I hope that do succeed quite quickly, in bringing about their most 'compelling' prohpecies so that we, as the human race, can move beyond such doomsday beliefs.
Anyway, they don't care about longterm effects of their actions because many of them believe that their 'Rapture' could happen at any moment.
The article explained that the potential technology would allow you to exist at your current state of physical and mental well-being and in fact reverse the physical and mental age of existing older people until you died due to unforseen circumstances, such as getting hit by a speeding truck.
I don't see why you would rather live a full life, up to 50, without pills and such, instead of living that same full life for, on average, 1000 years of life with pills and such...
Kids these days, always speaking before they know what they are speaking about.
It wasn't just for the corporations, quite a few 'interest groups' were involved in fighting the political climate of the fight against Communism.
It was in the 50's that Evangelical Christians started freaking out about the End Times and how Gog and Magog was Soviet Russia and Communism was all about the state and not religion. Good old Billy Graham started hardcore preaching about the evils of Communism and how it was out to destroy religion and all that jazz.
Around the same time those Evangelicals started getting mighty political and helped empower the 'Red Scare' in the United States.
On Sarcasm...
That post was clearly sarcastic and should have been modded 'Funny', in lieu of a 'Sarcastic' Moderation choice...
When did you provide links to the information you were presenting?
You had stated the marijuana user mantra, that has been repeated often in 'High Times' and by many of the marijuana user's that I have interacted with throughout the years. It doesn't matter if you read that publication or not, I have read and had those statements recounted to me from that publication and have heard that gospel preached by many users of marijuana.
Heck, I used to believe that same thing myself!
Here's some links... The first one gives me reason to question whether or not Marijuana should be made legal...
Link One
Here's a High Times piece that ignores much of the additional scientific information in the previous link, in order to 'justify' the legalization movement. Perhaps the writer suffered from memory loss revolving around the rest of the scientific information that was available at the time the discovery of the brain receptor he wrote about...
The following quote comes directly from the above listed 'High Times' article...
This latest research confirms and explains Hollister's 1986 conclusion about cannabis and addiction: "Physical dependence is rarely encountered in the usual patterns, despite some degree of tolerance that may develop."
It says 'rarely encountered in the usual patterns' that doesn't mean that physical dependence is rarely encountered, just that the usual patterns, like the intense almost crazy cravings for the drug aren't usual. Even 'High Times' agrees with me that Marijuana is physically addictive!
You really don't have to like the facts, just understand the facts exist. I am still for the legalization of marijuana, but you won't ever see me using it. That's just not something that is part of my life, for many reasons.
I am not preaching and saying that anyone shouldn't use marijuana or any particular drug, I am just pointing out the fact that it is indeed addictive. I also qualify that by stating that it is well known that the withdrawal symptoms are quite minimal, in comparison to a great many other drugs and that many current and past users of marijuana simply don't believe they are or were ever addicted, because withdrawal is so minor.
My sig says nothing about posting 'bs' about people I don't know. It's simply about tools with multiple uses.
If you reread my statement, it was a hypothetical possibility, I didn't proclaim that the parent poster did indeed feel those symptoms, I simply suggested that he/she *may* have felt those for a few days or so and most likely didn't think anything of those symptoms. Which is entirely possible, due to the low level of withdrawal symptoms with marijuana.
The textbooks that I read, newer then 10 years BTW, detailed what I had stated above. I am not taking this on faith. I am taking my statements based upon the information that was in a psychology textbook for a class that I took about 4 years ago.
Ten years ago, it wasn't possible for US researchers to use Class 1 Controlled substances, like Marijuana, for scientific study. So, most of the data from back then and earlier is out of date, couldn't be tested and proven, without criminal charges being levied on the researchers.
In recent years those restrictions have changed somewhat and some studies have been allowed in the US and studies from outside the US could then be verified by US research scientists.
Look, I am all for legalizing Marijuana, because out of most of the drugs out there, it is relatively benign, mostly affecting long-term memory and some other minor side-effects. Which recent studies have proven.
Anyway, back to your contention that it is only psychologically addictive. I have to say that's bunk.
Slashdot, Everquest and other similar entertaining pursuits are psychologically addictive, because they don't alter the physical chemistry of your brain or body, you don't take magic EQ or Slashdot pills in order to enjoy EQ or Slashdot. You simply load them up on your computer and enjoy.
Marijuana, on the other hand, chemically alters your brain chemistry. It affects your neurotransmitters, through a physical chemical reaction. This brings on the psychological effects attributed to marijuana. Over time, the brain becomes used to and wants to continue to be in that state. Which is why so many potheads, whom I was once one of, like to come up with all these ideas and excuses about how and why Marijuana is needed in their life, how it isn't addictive and all other sorts of made up on faith beliefs, or repeated by enough people that it simply must be true, right? You know the old saying, "a million can't be wrong", right?
The great thing about marijuana is that the physical addiction symptoms are so negligable that they simply don't negatively impact most and I do mean most users, when they quit cold turkey. Due to that fact, it is one of the easiest drugs to stop taking and that's a fact.
You should pick up some more modern books on the subject and quit taking the words of 'High Times' and other pothead's as the gospel in regards to the physical effects of THC and long-term marijuana use.
What exactly is and advanced degree in experimental psychology? Is that a respected and generally accepted medical science or is it more of a fringe science that isn't generally accepted, kind of like paranormal science? I need to have that qualified before I can properly address your statement.
I have to ask to clarify that, because when you toss on 'Experimental', to me, that significantly calls into question the basis of your statements. It's not your fault that I have to question where you are coming from, you can blame 'Creation Scientists' for that. These days, I have to be extremely skeptical of anyone that claims certain scientific knowledge that is practically the opposite of generally accepted scientific knowledge.
From my, albeit, limited understanding of psychology and general medical, THC is a drug that alters the physical chemistry of the brain. This has a psychological effect that is well documented. It is true that THC has less intense side-effects on the human brain chemistry then say, Heroin, Nicotine, Cocain and caffine. However, there are still physcial chemical changes in the brain.
Eventually, just like other drugs, the brain adjusts and becomes used to that altered state of operation and the user of that drug often wishes to maintain that altered state of mind. Some users end up consuming more and more of a given drug, including Marijuana, and will often come up with excuses as to why they 'need' it in their life and how they simply cannot live without it.
Most people can easily adjust to no longer having that drug available and can quickly quit with barely noticeable side effects. Some people can continue to use small amounts of a given drug without increasing usage or lowering usage and will experience barely noticeable side-effects in day to day living. You can be an addict, to Marijuana, and have that have little impact on your life. You can quit at anytime and have negligable withdrawal symptoms that are typically so minor that they are barely noticed by most people.
I am not one of those 'Just say no' folks. My contention is that if some behavior or activity enriches your life, then you shouldn't have to quit, even termporarily, that activity to still succeed at your primary goal.
Your exmple of Lance Armstrong is very illogical. Both training for the Tour De France and an advanced mathematical degree are both extremely time consuming and great endeavors, both of which require almost 100% attention in order to be successful at it. Both also enrich one's life, although through very different approaches.
My example is asking why he/she (the parent poster) should quit a recreational activity that so enriches his/her life, in order to be able to work hard at his or her primary task. You are suggesting a choice between two arguably primary tasks.
I am certain that advanced mathematics degree seekers and Lance Armstrong both have their recreational activities on the side that they continue to pursue while seeking out their primary goal. People need recreational diversions, we would go pretty nutty if we didn't have any.
I was only asking the parent poster why he/she finds his/her life enriched by consuming marijuana and at the same time finds that substance to get in the way when he/she needs to buckle down and get to work, to the point of quiting for upwards of 6 to 8 months. To me, that doesn't say life enrichment by smoking marijuana, it kind of says the opposite.
If it 'enriches' your life so much, why did you have to quit for about 8 or 9 weeks last semester to 'hunker down' and 'work hard'?
If something enriches one's life, then it should be that you would be capable of hunkering down and working harder by having that part of your life, right?
Like I said, the withdrawal symptoms aren't quite as strong as other drugs or alchohol. Relating that part of your life as 'When was I not stoned' is a sign that, at the time, you were addicted to that behavior.
When your 'source' moved away, you and your friends, possibly fretted about it for a few days, maybe you looked elsewhere and in the end decided it wasn't worth your time. You may not remember those three or four days of being slightly agitated about losing your 'fun' thing, but that most likely happened. After a few days, that passed because the withdrawal symptoms are light and fade quite quickly with marijuana.
The addiction is to having an altered state of mind. Some people smoke pot simply to relax and have a good time. Some people drink beer to relax and have a good time.
Some people smoke pot, simply to reach and or maintain that altered mental state. Some people drink beer to reach and or maintain that altered mental state.
The difference is one is truly an addiction and the other is not so much of an addiction.
Marijuana is addictive. To prove this to yourself, simply stop taking marijuana for the next 6 months. Don't toke even once. Not so easy to do, is it? (Note, this only works if you currently smoke marijuana.)
Anyone who has smoked heavy amounts of marijuana or has smoked regularly and then quit for one reason or another knows that marijuana is indeed addictive. It just doesn't feature the same depth and width of withdrawal as many other drugs and alchohol has.
Every Pothead likes to claim how marijuana isn't addictive, but when pressed to quit, they come up with excuses or even say that they can't get by without it.
I have a friend that moved back from across the country that was desperately wanting to get ahold of some marijuana and was at an elevated emotional state proclaiming to me how much he needed it in his life. He heavily suggested to me that if I didn't help him, he was likely going to become an alchoholic because if he couldn't smoke pot, he was going drink large quantities of beer. That's a fact.
I know more then a few people in that boat and was in that same boat myself. Luckily, I quit, moved on from that part of my life and have found that no longer smoking pot was the most positive thing I ever could have done.
Yet, you claim Pot isn't addictive. Hmmm...
However, right now you have vastly different games, some with vastly different genres. At best, there could be a pricewar between Fantasy Based MMORPGs, SciFi based RPGs and so on. That is very unlikely, because each of the games set into each genre offers various levels of play and radically different takes on the genre.
A SciFi example being...
Star Wars Galaxies and Anarchy Online.
SWG has a well known and loved franchise. That's HUGE points over AO. SWG has a very wide crafting system and equipment system, from harvesting resources to building sub-components to crafting final assemblies. AO's crafting system pales in comparison. SWG now has a Space Combat system as well as several planets to choose from. AO doesn't have that.
There is little reason for SWG to compete with AO based upon price. SWG offers much, much more then AO currently and may ever offer.
The same goes for a variety of other MMORPGs. For the longest time Ultima Online offered things that EQ and other Fantasy MMORPGs didn't offer. It had a decent crafting system, player houses, non-combat classes and a number of other interesting features all taking place in a long-lived Computer Fantasy Role-Playing Game of Ultima.
I would like to see a pricewar, but that won't happen until all MMORPGs of a particular genre share so many features that price is the only way to differentiate between them. Until that day, those companies can continue to increase their prices just up to the point that decent numbers of players start leaving the game.
I have run into all sorts of people that seem intent ONLY on the level as fast as possible, grind, grind, grind mentality. They don't play the game to enjoy what the game offers, they don't read into the story quests, they don't converse with other players, unless they absolutely have to. It doesn't make much sense to me to play that way.
Playing like that would become so boring that there would be little to no reason to continue playing the game. There's only so much content available to the Solo player, after that is used up, players have to 'make' their own content, by being social with one another. Building Player Cities, joining PA's and getting involved in PA Wars and such.
Those solo players might as well be playing a MMORPG like Anarchy Online, which the last time I played it was totally geared for Solo play. In fact, that game seemed design to push people into solo play. There's no kind of 'community' that can be built inside the confines of that game. There aren't any Player Cities, there were no 'Static' dungeons that required player's to interact with one another. Anarchy Online is a Solo Player's Wet Dream.